Breakingviews - Breakdown: Coronavirus goes global

NEW YORK - It’s not time to panic, but it is time to face reality. The coronavirus is spreading around the world. China’s unprecedented efforts slowed the spread of the new disease officially known as Covid-19, but that’s merely won some time. Infected people have now been detected on every continent except Antarctica. Competent and open government is the best defense against hospitals and society being overwhelmed. But nations will probably have to deal with recurring outbreaks.

What’s especially alarming is that one of the first indications of a mass outbreak in Iran came from a traveler being diagnosed in Canada. If countries that appear uninfected are spreading the disease, many other outbreaks are presumably underway. Nearly every country neighboring Iran has now been affected.For a disease to be truly worrisome, it needs to be both highly contagious and dangerous.

Hospitals would probably run short of protective gear. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said the government has stockpiled 30 million masks, but it needs 300 million to protect front-line healthcare workers alone. Doctors would be overloaded, because many would become sick, and because people who have not been infected would still seek help.

The World Bank estimated in 2014 that a pandemic of similar size and effect to the 1918 flu would knock 5% off global gross domestic product. That disease was both widespread and probably more virulent – it killed over 50 million people – so that’s a worst-case scenario.Allowing information to flow freely is the best way to identify clusters early. When local officials cover up, or doctors are afraid to disclose cases, outbreaks fester.

The fact it can be hosted asymptomatically for up to 24 days guarantees it will become a pandemic. I can't see that there's anything you can do to avoid infection other than hide in your cellar for 6 months.

As expected it’s hit our little island this week. Apparently they are contacting people who sat within 2 rows of the carrier on the plane from Italy? This person travelled on from Dublin to Belfast. Doesn’t seem enough of precaution to me. But sure what do I know.

The best minds and computers in the world should be given everything possible to find a cure

It’s the end of the world as we know it!

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